How Print Delivery Works for Manchester City Centre Offices and Apartments
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Here's a question we get a lot from Manchester: "If I order today, when will it actually turn up?"
Fair question. Especially if you work in an office near Piccadilly, or live in one of the big apartment blocks around the station, where parcels go through a reception desk or a concierge before they reach you.
So let's walk through it. This guide explains print delivery to city centre offices and flats, what happens after you click "order", and how to make sure your print lands in your hands, not in a pile in the post room.
What happens after you order
It helps to know the steps. That way, you know what to expect at each stage.
- You place your order. You choose your product, upload your artwork and check out.
- We check and print. Your job goes into production.
- We pack and hand it to the courier.
- The courier delivers it to the address you gave.
That's it. But each step takes a bit of time, and that's what catches people out.
Once the parcel is with the courier, the best thing you can do is make sure the address is spot on. A missing floor number or building name is one of the most common reasons a parcel goes round in circles in the city centre.
Artwork matters for timing
If your file has a problem, like the wrong size or images that are too blurry, it can slow things down. Get your file right before you upload it and you'll keep things moving.
Production and courier time explained
Here's the plain version, straight from our delivery information.
- Standard UK shipping is 2 to 3 working days of production, then about 2 days for delivery.
- Working days are Monday to Friday. Weekends and bank holidays don't count.
- Same-day delivery is only for London and inside the M25. It isn't available for Manchester.
What that looks like in real life
Say you order on a Monday. Production could take until Wednesday or Thursday. Then delivery takes about 2 more days. So you'd be looking at around the end of that week or early the next.
Order on a Friday? The weekend doesn't count, so production starts on the Monday. Plan for that.
A simple example
| You order on | Production could finish by | Then delivery takes about |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | Wednesday or Thursday | 2 more days |
| Wednesday | Friday or the next Monday | 2 more days |
| Friday | Tuesday or Wednesday (the weekend doesn't count) | 2 more days |
These are rough guides, not promises. Busy times and bank holidays can add time, so give yourself some slack.
For the full details, see our delivery information page. If you need to know about tracking for your order, that's the place to check, or just give us a call.
Reception and concierge deliveries
This is the bit people often forget. Lots of offices and apartment buildings in the city centre don't let couriers come up to your door. Your parcel goes to a front desk first.
Tips for offices
- Put your full name and company name on the delivery address, plus the floor number.
- Tell reception you're expecting a parcel, especially if it's urgent.
- Some print is big. A pull-up banner or a stack of A1 posters can make for a long or heavy parcel. Give reception a heads-up so it doesn't get left in a corner.
Tips for apartments
- Use your flat number and building name exactly as they appear on your post.
- Check your concierge's hours and parcel rules. Some buildings hold parcels only for a few days.
- If your building has a parcel locker, check whether large items will fit. Many won't.
- Going away? Have it sent to your work address instead, or ask a neighbour you trust to pick it up from the desk.
Delivering to a shared workspace?
Co-working spaces often have a busy front desk. Add the name of the space and your company name, and let the desk know what's coming.
Is it going to an event, not the office?
If your print is for an event at a hotel or conference venue, ask the venue whether they accept deliveries for guests or exhibitors. Some do, some don't, and some only take them on certain days. Check first, then choose the address.
What to do if the deadline is tight
We get it. Sometimes the event got moved, or the order slipped down the list.
Things that help
- Order as early in the week as you can. Fewer weekend days get in the way.
- Have your artwork final before you order. Changes cost time.
- Order everything together. If you need posters, a banner and flyers, one order is simpler to plan around than three.
- Have it sent where someone's in. A missed delivery can add days.
Be realistic
Same-day delivery isn't available in Manchester. So if your event is in two days, standard shipping won't get there in time. If you're not sure, call us before you order. We'll tell you straight.
Checklist
Run through this before you click "order".
- ☐ Artwork is final. Right size, sharp images, spelling checked.
- ☐ Delivery address is complete. Name, company, floor or flat number, building name, postcode.
- ☐ Someone will be there. Reception or concierge knows a parcel is coming.
- ☐ You've counted working days. Not calendar days. Bank holidays checked.
- ☐ Big items are expected. Reception knows a banner or rolled posters are on the way.
- ☐ Everything you need is in one order. Posters, A2 foam boards, a pull-up roller banner, A4 flyers and business cards.
Order with confidence
Once you know how the timing works, ordering print to a Manchester office or flat is simple. Count your working days, tell your front desk, and you're sorted.
Ready to order? Pick your products, upload your files and we'll print and send them to you. Got a tight deadline? Call us on 020 7701 2515 and we'll talk it through. You can also see all our printing services in Manchester City Centre.
